Parks Director Sam Dudley told commissioners at the Oct. 15 Parks & Recreation meeting that the Lake Leatherwood fishing derby was successful, as was the soccer club Fall Jamboree. He also announced that Madison Larson has been promoted to Parks’ Assistant Manager, and said Harmon Park building’s water leak is fixed and electrical wiring is being installed.
Dudley said all 12 benches at Basin Park have been dedicated and plaques are being made to indicate who the bench beneficiaries are. He said that Main Street Eureka Springs will be funding a handrail for the newly repaired Crystal Terrace Bridge.
In new business, third quarter financials were presented for July through September and approved, and commissioners will begin work on the 2025 budget soon.
Dudley said shuttle operations were good news and bad news, the bad news being that the current vendor was not making payments, so the contract was cancelled. To ensure that people have shuttle access, they will continue, and a subcontractor will operate until the end of the year, then restructure the payment plan.
Wristbands are $6 to ride the shuttle.
Dudley said the good news was that the Lake Leatherwood Bike Park has several trails with different skill levels that attract most of the shuttle riders. Dudley and a graphic artist designed a new logo of Bigfoot riding a bike.
The Bike Park was originally funded by the Walton Foundation and provides a service that will allow it to pay for itself. Dudley has been in talks to get their own shuttle that Parks would run.
There are places for the shuttle to pick up and drop off riders, and it made a profit of $54,000 in 2022.
Dudley said he has been in talks to get a second shuttle. Parks would run the shuttles with a contracted driver. He described the job as requiring someone able to monitor and use social media for the shuttle, partner with local businesses, design, promote, and sell merchandise, drinks, snacks, and bike parts.
He said the person should also promote lodging in the park, oversee vehicles and trailers, provide employee management and trail maintenance and do routine trail checks and maintain them. Dudley said he is looking at shuttles for purchase that range between $15,000 to $30,000. He said a shuttle should hold at least 14 people and their bikes.
The shuttle will mostly be driven on paved roads, and cost between $5000 to $10,000 for insurance and maintenance per year. In estimation, Dudley said $100,000 would be good for getting this new service operating. He added that he’s shooting for a start date in 2025.
Commissioner Ruth Mitchell said that the arts community wants to save Arts in the Parks and have started an LLC, and representatives intend to speak with the commission at an upcoming workshop.
City Advertising and Promotion Commission Chair Steve Holifield asked the citizens of Eureka Springs to vote No on Issue 3. Holifield said he wanted people to understand that disbanding the CAPC and its tax would impact funding essential to running Parks in helping to keep Basin Park maintenance current.